416 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



gloves, to the boot of the motor suit and Shetland wool under- 

 clothing which I already had on. Yet riding here, yesterday, I 

 had worn only the motor suit — such is the difference between 

 sunny and cloudy days in an Iceland summer. This change, 

 or rather increase of attire, took me some little while, and on 

 peering over the rise again, behind which I had been lying or 

 crouching, I found the bird off the nest and in the water, though 

 still close to the shore. I attribute this to my having assumed 

 the upright attitude whilst still in its sight, when leaving, though 

 at a considerable distance ; for as long as one crouches, crawls, 

 advances in a sitting attitude (like Irving in the play-scene in 

 " Hamlet "), or even on one's hands and knees, no alarm seems to 

 be felt by the birds. Acting now more cautiously, the bird was 

 soon back on the nest again. I assume it to have been the same 

 one, though, of course, it is impossible to be sure that there 

 had been no change upon it whilst I was away. If there had, 

 then in all probability I had had nothing to do with it. I was 

 now in a better position to see the bird get up the bank. It did 

 so by a tremendous spring out of the water, which, either alone, 

 or with a step or two afterwards, brought it not sliding on to its 

 nest, but standing up over it, the body, however, bent forward 

 at a considerable angle. In this position it bent down its head 

 into the nest, touching the egg (as has been said there was only 

 one) with the bill, as it seemed to me, before sinking down upon 

 it. It must, I think, in making its spring, have placed its legs 

 well forward under its body, and then leapt right upon the bank. 

 It did not merely push itself up the slope, with its feet, from 

 behind, according to the general statement — at least it did not 

 seem to me to do so. 



All at once I see the female bird, as I suppose her to be, 

 quite close to the islet — she must, I think, have dived to it — 

 and now just under the nest, towards which she seems to look 

 with an anxious, half-timid glance, as if pleading with her mate 

 to come off, and let her enter again on her duties. This is a 

 pretty picture, and it continues for some while, for the male, 

 having his own sense of duty, is not to be entreated, but sits 

 obstinately on. Thus repulsed, she at length turns discon- 

 solately away, and, diving, disappears for some while altogether. 

 When I see her again she is a long way off, on the other side 



